This book explores the revolutionary development of the theory of the firm over the past 35 years. Despite rapid progress in the field, new developments in the microeconomic and industrial organization literature have been relatively scant. This book attempts to redress the balance by providing...

This authoritative volume focuses on the rise of modern firms, from their early history to the present day. It considers the role of laws and contracts in shaping the growth and influence of business enterprises. It presents entrepreneurs, executives and the firms they controlled as driving...

Contents: Part I: An alternative theory of the firm -- 1. Why we need an alternative theory of the firm and its environment -- Part II: The firm and its environment -- 2. What is a firm? -- 3. What is an environment? -- 4. Modification and matching -- Part III: Explaining adaptation -- 5. The...

It is now widely acknowledged that institutions are a crucial factor in economic performance. Major developments have been made in our understanding of the nature and evolution of economic institutions in the last few years. This book brings together some key contributions in this area by...

Recommended readings (Machine generated): Adams, R.B., B.E. Hermalin and M.S. Weisbach (2010), 'The Role of Boards of Directors in Corporate Governance: A Conceptual Framework and Survey', Journal of Economic Literature, 48 (1), 55-107. -- Audretsch, D.B. (1995), Innovation and Industry...

Recent corporate governance scandals have brought to the fore the inherent contradictions of a capitalism dominated by financial markets. This challenging book by Michel Aglietta and Antoine Rebérioux argues that capitalism's basic premise--that companies must be managed in the sole interest of...

The ideal firm has been studied over several centuries, yet little is known about what makes one successful and another fail. This pioneering book brings together leading researchers investigating the concept of the firm from a neuroscientific perspective

The world of multinational enterprises is changing dramatically. Their complex and dynamic international context presents them with special challenges--threatening their survival on one hand, and presenting them with unprecedented opportunities on the other. In this volume, international experts...

The book begins with a penetrating analysis of the main features of today's capitalism and in particular the conflict between shareholders and managers. It moves on to focus on the consequences of globalization in the decision-making processes of large corporations and represents an important...